A request by Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko’s administration for the county assembly to allocate a firm owned by the family of his predecessor, Okoth Obado, 900 acres of land for mining has raised eyebrows amid claims of 2027 political talks.
Mr Ayacko’s Cabinet approved the allocation of the parcel to Global Search Solutions Ltd, a company owned by Mr Obado’s wife, Hellen Odhiambo Odie.
The company seeks to lease the parcel – Muhuru Kadem/Macalder/498 (LR, 17955) – for 30 years. According to documents in our possession, the firm has listed the agricultural revival of the cotton plant and the establishment of the gold processing company Carbon in Pulp Plant – CIP as the purpose of the lease.
Mr Ayacko and Mr Obado have had a long history of bitter political rivalry, but are of late seen to be embracing each other, with talks that the former county boss may consider running for the senate seat.
Mr Obado has since joined the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election, while Governor Ayacko is said to be keen on tapping his backing for a second term. Mr Ayacko is currently facing fierce competition from opponents, including Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, who has declared an interest in unseating him in the 2027 contest.
Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko.
Photo credit: File
The Nation contacted Mr Ayacko for a comment on his administration's decision to approve the request and to ask whether his current political ties with Mr Okoth had influenced the move.
By the time of going to press, he had not responded to our text messages or returned our calls. Although his communications office promised a response, he never got back to us despite our reminders.
The said parcel is a known gold belt that in the past has been a centre of major conflict among local miners. Documents indicate that the land was originally adjudicated as public land held in trust by the South Nyanza County Council (now the county government of Migori).
Part of the parcel currently hosts both county and national government offices, sub-county hospital, schools, market, bus park, Aggregated Industrial Park and Rongo University.
“The proposed agricultural revival for cotton plant and establishment of gold processing company carbon in pulp plant – CIP will host cotton farms, administrative offices, the gold processing plant, warehouses, parking yard, machinery yard, engineering offices and yard, staff quarters and a research centre thereby promoting local development, job creation, and human capital growth in the region,” the county government states in a Cabinet Memorandum.
On December 3, 2025, Migori County Assembly Majority Leader Ken Ouma tabled a motion seeking approval of the lease.
In the motion, Mr Ouma talks of 350 acres, while the Cabinet Memorandum indicates 900 acres for the company.
Mr Ouma also sought approval for the lease of 50 acres of land to Joymakers Foundation, another 50 acres to Vivatel Networks Limited and 31 acres to Noiya Women Enterprises Ltd.
According to CR12, both Global Search Solutions and Vivatel Network Solutions were pre-qualified suppliers for Kisumu County between 2018 and 2020. Vivatel Network Solutions shares a postal address (P.O. BOX 4923-40100) with Conton Group.
“That pursuant to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Article 185 (3) and (4), request to lease 350 acres to Global Search Solutions Ltd for agricultural revival of cotton plant and establishment of gold processing company Carbon in Pulp Plant – CIP be laid on the table.”
Mr Ouma told Nation that the matter is currently before the Lands Committee, which has been tasked to carry out public participation before tabling a report for the assembly’s consideration.
Mr Ouma explained that ward representatives are tasked with the mandate of looking into such matters when they are raised by the executive.
"It was a paper that was brought to the house through my office. We looked at it and committed it to the relevant house committee," he said.
Mr Ouma said the team will do due diligence and ensure they conduct background checks on the request presented to them by the executive.
"They have not brought the report to the assembly for consideration until now. That is when a motion will be tabled and discussed," the majority leader said.
Global Search Solutions Ltd was founded in 2005 and incorporated in 2009 under certificate number CPR/2009/3899 as a limited liability company.
The firm initiated the lease request in September 2025 through the Department of Lands, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The firm described the revival of cotton farming and the establishment of a gold processing company, Carbon in Pulp Plant (CIP), as a timely and strategic opportunity to create employment, stimulate regional development and optimise the use of public land.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Obado told the Daily Nation that the firm has followed due process in seeking a lease for the parcel. He said they are not forcing anybody for approval, adding the county assembly has a right to either approve or reject the application.
He expressed surprise that some people were out to politicise the project that he said will improve the economy of the county and offer job opportunities to the unemployed youth.
"Recently when the President was there, another investor requested for land, and it was given. When I was governor, my administration allocated 1000 acres to another investor. Why must people see politics in everything? Why couldn't I give myself when I was governor for 10 years? People are only interested in seeing bad things even when the intention is good," said Mr Obado.
A Mr Evans Ouma Ogutu, who identified himself to Nation as the Chief Executive Officer in charge of operations and finance, said the lease process has no connections to any political alignment in the county.
Mr Ogutu, whose phone number is provided in one of the documents as the contact person for the company, said they have followed due process in seeking to lease the parcel of land. He said the request for the lease is for expansion of the company, which he described as the biggest firm in Suna West constituency.
“There is nowhere Obado has said he needs a political seat. His political leaning has no bearing to running of the company. She (Hellen) is not involved in our day to day running of the company. I can tell you that I am the one who put the request to the county executive.”
“The assembly is expected to carry public participation and will decide whether to approve or reject our requests. Once it passes this stage, it will go to the National Lands Commission (NLC). We are following every procedure and meeting the requirements set for such a lease,” Mr Ogutu told Nation .
